Thursday, 12 September 2019

The Story Behind Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

Learning on the Everlasting Arms is a hymn from the pen of Professor Anthony Showalter with the help of Reverend Elisha Hoffman. It was written in 1887.

Professor Showalter was a music professor who went around rural America teaching music.

Before we continue we need some kind of background on the music situation before this period in American history as it will help to understand how this hymn came about.

A long time ago there were few printed songbooks or hymns books in America. Therefore during church time the congregations depended on the choristers for the words and the tune of the songs. The choristers actually called out the words and the congregation would follow after them.

It should be pointed out as well that at this time few people knew how to read music as music was rarely taught in schools.

Anthony Showalter

Later on things changed and there was an increase in the printing of songbooks. And through the persistent pressure of various musicians, music started being taught in schools through music masters who moved around the rural areas of america teaching music.

One of the music masters who responded to the call was Professor Showalter.

One day in 1887, Professor Showalter found himself in Alabama teaching music for a brief period. After the class he left for the boarding house to rest.

Waiting for him at the boarding house were two letters from his former music students from South Carolina. As coincidence would have it both were informing him the sad news that they had just lost their wives.

The verse that he wanted to use to console them is the inspiration for this hymn. It is Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms: He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, 'destroy".

But before he decided to send the letters he felt it would be better to compose a song instead based on this verse. After all these were his music students who now knew how to read and sing music.

He therefore wrote the chorus of this hymn:

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms,

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

He later sent the chorus to Reverend Elisha Hoffman in Pennsylvania who added the verses for this beautiful hymn.

When Professor Showalter received the finished work he wrote the music to this song.

That is how this song that has blessed many grieving souls over the years came about. May God bless you as you lean on Him.

Wednesday, 11 September 2019

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Hymn Story

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus is a hymn that has soothed the heart of many troubled souls since it came to the attention of the public. It is a beloved hymn of the sick, the stressed, the bereaved and all that need rest from our stress filled life on earth.

This hymn is now found in most evangelical church hymnals. I have heard this song sung in America, Europe and mother Africa.

This hymnn originally known as The Heavenly Vision is a composition of Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863 -1961). She wrote over 500 hymns and poems but this song is by far the most well known of her songs.

Helen Howarth Lemmel was born in 1863, in Wardle, England. She was the daughter of a Methodist minister. She immigrated to the USA when she was 12 and spent most of life there.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus drew its inspiration from a Christian tract, "Focused: A Story and Song" penned by Isabella Lilias Trotter with its lesson on dandelion. Isabella was an English artist and missionary to Algeria.

The words that touched Helen most on reading the tract were, "So, then, turn your eyes upon him, look full into his face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire as strange new dimness."

Immediately after reading this Helen sat down and wrote the words of this hymn. It is said that the words just flowed off her pen effortlessly.

"Oh soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the savior."

Very powerful words that continue to bless us to this day!

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Hymn Lyrics

1 O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

2 Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion

For more than conqu’rors we are!

3 His Word shall not fail you, He promised;

Believe Him and all will be well;

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

For more stories and lyrics of famous Christian hymns and songs click here.

Tuesday, 10 September 2019

Long Upon The Mountain Hymn Story

Long Upon The Mountain is a hymn penned by Annie R Smith, an Adventist musician who composed a number of hymns in her lifetime, ten of which are in the current SDA Church hymnal. This one is hymn no. 447 in the hymnal.

This hymn first appeared in the Review And Herald magazine of December, 9, 1851.

It is based on Ezekiel 34:12“As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep and deliver them fro all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. Ezekiel 34:12.

She wrote this hymn to encourage the church to look beyond the challenges they were facing to the soon return of our Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ.

Annie R Smith

Long Upon The Mountain Weary Lyrics

1. Long upon the mountains weary, Have the scattered flock been torn;

Dark the desert paths, and dreary; Grievous trials have they borne.

Now the gathering call is sounding, Solemn in its warning voice;

Union, faith, and love, abounding, Bid the little flock rejoice.

2. Now the light of truth they’re seeking, In its onward track pursue;

All the ten commandments keeping, They are holy, just, and true.

On the words of life they’re feeding, Precious to their taste so sweet;

All theie Master’s precepts heeding, Bowing humbly at His feet.

3. In that light of light and beauty, In that golden city fair,

Soon Its pearly gates they’ll enter, And of all the glories share,

There, di-vine the soul’s expansions; Free from sin, and death, and pain;

Tears will nec-er dim those mansions where the saints immortal reign.

4. Soon He comes! With clouds desending; All saints, entombed arise;

The redeemed, in anthems blending, Shout their vict’ry thro’ the skies.

Monday, 9 September 2019

The Great Judgment Morning Story

Bertram H Shadduck wrote this hymn in 1894.

Bertram Henry Shadduck was born 14 April, 1869 in Erie County, Pennsylvania. He grew up as infidel following his father who was also an infidel.

He is reported to have said that he initially went to Church out of curiosity first and to escape work his father gave him to do on Sundays. However, at the age of eighteen he heard a sermon that touched him so much that he gave his heart to the Lord.

He initially joined the Salvation Army in 1888 but later left in 1894 and in 1900 became a member of the Methodist church.

There are a few hymns that give me goosebumps and this hymn is one of them. It is a solemn message about the judgment day and the punishment that will be meted out on that day.

Let us all keep this in mind as we journey on this earth. Actions have consequences and in this case there will be eternal consequences for our actions on earth. It is high time we hid under the blood of Jesus Christ to escape from the wrath of God.

This hymn is based on Revelation Revelation 6: 15-16

"15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (KJV)

Let Every Lamp Be Burning YouTube Video

Look For The Waymarks Story.

This is another hymn from the pen of Franklin E Belden. He wrote this in 1886. It is hymn no. 596 in the SDA church hymnal.

It is based on the prophecy of Daniel chapter 2. In this chapter, the bible says that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream in which he saw a giant statue made up of four metals, gold, silver, bronze and iron.

Unfortunately the king forgot the dream and demanded that his wise-men tell him what he dreamed. The wise-men could not tell him his dream until God revealed it to Daniel in a vision.

According to the bible the image represented rise and fall of empires from Babylon to the end of time when Christ, represented by the rock that hit the feet of the image and destroyed it, comes again.

The song encourages to look for waymarks as shown in this dream and understand that we are living in the last days of earth's history.

“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21

Look For The Waymarks YouTube Video.

The Judgment Has Set Hymn Story

The Judgment Has Set is another composition from the prolific hymn writer, Franklin E Belden. He composed this hymn in 1886. He left the SDA church in 1907. It is hymn no. 416 in the SDA Hymnal.

He was such a talented musician who could write poems as well as the tunes. It is reported that he could compose hymns while the preacher was still preaching and sing the songs soon after the sermon. He composed so many songs such as, We Will Build On The Rock.

"For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14

The Judgment Has Set YouTube Video

We Will Build On The Rock History

We Will Build On The Rock, The Living Rock is a hymn that was composed by Franklin Edson Belden in 1886. It draws its inspiration from the Matthew 7:24 where Jesus says, “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock”.

Franklin E Belden was a prolific Seventh day Adventist hymn writer whose other hymns include, Judgment Has Set. He left the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1907 due to disagreements over royalties for the songs that he composed and were included in official church hymnals.

Sunday, 8 September 2019

Wherever He Leads I'll Go Hymn Story

Some of the songs that we have in our hymn books came out of a difficult situations in the life of the authors and this hymn, Wherever He Leads I'll Go is no exception. It was composed by BB Mckinney in 1936 soon after meeting his friend, R S Jones who was then a missionary in Brazil.

R S Jones had just returned home on furlough from Brazil. During their meeting, a heartbroken R S Jones shared with B B Mckinney that he had a health issue that would prevent him from returning to Brazil. He had come to love Brazil and his work and this news broke his heart.

McKinney is reported to have asked his friend, "What will you do?". With tears coming down his cheeks R S Jones responded, " Wherever He leads I will go".

It is from this response from R S Jones that so affected B B Mckinney that he sat down immediately that day and wrote this hymn. Later that same day in the evening this song was sung after R S Jones had given a sermon.

May this be the response of all of us who call ourselves Christians, "wherever he leads I'll go". The work of spreading the gospel will only be finished when we have more people like R S Jones.

Crown Him with many crowns Choir

Saturday, 7 September 2019

Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling Hymn History

It is an open secret that there has been an interchange or sharing of tunes between the outside world and Christian music. This may surprise some Christians who want "pure music". Today's hymn, Softly and Tenderly is an example of that interchange.

Softly and Tenderly was composed using an old American folk song around 1880. The author of this hymn is Will L Thompson, a composer of gospel, secular and patriotic songs.

It should be noted, however, that had it not been for the authors persistence this song would not have seen the light of day. Mr Thompson was actually forced to start his own music publishing company after having his songs rejected.

It is from this company that this hymn, Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling was published as part of other songs.

It is reported that when the famous evangelist Dwight L Moody was on his deathbed he told Thompson, " Will, I would rather have written "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" than anything I have been able to do in my whole life".

This Is My Father's World Hymn Story

There are a number of Christian songs that were originally just written as poems with the authors not intending to produce songs. This Is My Father's World fits that pattern as it was written as a poem by Maltbie Davenport Babcock.

It was a poem made up of sixteen verses of four line each. Unfortunately the author died in 1901 before the poem was set to music by Franklin L Sheppard in 1915.

Maltbie Davenport Babcock was a minister of the Word in New York when he came up with this poem. He is said to have enjoyed going to a cliff that gave him a view of the beautiful Lake Ontario.

When going out for these walks he would tell his wife that he was "going out to see my father's world.

Master The Tempest Is Raging History

This words of this hymn, Master The Tempest Is Raging, were written by Mary Ann Baker and they were set to music by Dr H R Palmer in 1874. The song was was published in Dr Palmer's Songs of Love For The Bible School.

The inspiration for this song is the story of Jesus and the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee when they encountered a big storm and their boat was at risk of capsizing.

As the bible reports Jesus was fast asleep while his disciples were fighting the storm and fearing for their lives. They soon realized that the savior was with them in the boat and woke him up. They complained to him saying, "master, carest thou not that we perish."

Horatio Palmer

Christ stood in the midst of the storm and rebuked the wind saying, "Peace , be still" and the storm stopped.

The King of Love My Shephered Is Story

This hymn was written by Henry Baker in 1868 and is based on the Welsh version of Psalm 23 and work of Edmund Prys. Henry W Baker was born on 27th May 1821 at Belmont House, Vauxhall, London. He helped in the compilation of several hymnals including the earliest version of Hymns Ancient And Modern where he was first chairman of the committee. He was an ordained minister and became vicar of Monkland in Herefordshire in 1851. He served Monkland until his death

The King of Love My Shepherd Is Video

Who Wrote Give Me Joy In My Heart

Unfortunately no one knows who wrote this simple but very loved hymn which continues to inspire millions of Christians all over the English world. There are some that have attributed it to A. Sevison but it looks like there is no consensus on this. It is however a song that is most loved especially by children. I remember singing this song in my teens.

It Is Well With My Soul Story

It is easy to talk about peace in Christ when everything is going our away. When we are prospering in both health and material blessings. It is however another thing altogether to talk about peace when you have just lost the most valuable people and things in your life.

This is why I admire the author of this hymn, Horatio G. Spafford (1828 - 1888). He wrote this hymn soon after tragically losing his four beloved daughters.

Horatio Spafford was a prominent lawyer in Chicago in his day and owned several properties in that city. He and his wife had one son and four daughters.

However like Job Horatio Spafford experienced tragedies that would have tested the faith of most people. It started with the death of his son and later on fire destroyed almost all his properties.

It was to escape all these tragedies that Horatio decided to send his wife and four daughter for a holiday in Europe in 1873. He bade them farewell with the hope to follow them later on.

Unfortunately that was not to be as his family's ship wrecked and all his four daughters were lost. Their ship bound for Le Havre France had collided with another steamship in Mid-Atlantic and sank almost immediately.

Fortunately his wife was saved after a lifeboat spotted her. She sent a message to her husband which read, "SAVED ALONE".

Horatio Gates Spafford

As you can imagine this plunged Horatio into deep sorrow. He immediately left for England to comfort his grieving wife.

The great evangelist Dwight Moody, a friend of the Spafford's family was in Edinburgh at the time conducting evangelistic crusades when he heard the news. He immediately with the singer Ira D Sankey came to London to comfort them. Horatio is reported to have told them, "It is well; the will of God be done".

Some people say this hymn was written while on his way to comfort his wife but some say he composed this hymn three years later. But they all agree that it was in memory of his four daughters.

May the Good Lord help us to have the same trust in our tragedies.

It Is Well With My Soul Hymn Lyrics

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows rollWhatever my lot, thou hast taught me to sayIt is well, it is well, with my soulIt is wellWith my soulIt is well, it is well with my soulThough Satan should buffet, though trials should come,Let this blest assurance control,That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soulIt is well (it is well)With my soul (with my soul)It is well, it is well with my soulMy sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thoughtMy sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soulIt is well (it is well)With my soul (with my soul)It is well, it is well with my soulIt is well (it is well)With my soul (with my soul)It is well, it is well with my soul

Sunday, 25 February 2018

Gustavus Adolphus Battle Song Story

Out of the heroic struggles of the Thirty Years' War, which saved for the world the fruit of the sixteenth century Reformation, there stands forth one gigantic son of the Vikings, the noble Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden.

His name is inseparably linked with one of the really great hymns of the Church — a hymn which was born in the midst of the conflict and is especially expressive of the faith and heroism which characterizes all true believers in the midst of trials and dangers.

The hymn was written to commemorate the victory of the Protestant armies under Gustavus Adolphus on the field of Leipzig, September, 17, 1631.

The authorship is somewhat uncertain. It is popularly ascribed to King Gustavus Adolphus himself. There are good authorities who say that his chaplain, Jacob Fabricius, was the real author.

Still others, and with the weight of evidence in their favor, say that the author was Johann Michael Altenberg, a Lutheran pastor, who was compelled to flee from his home during the Thirty Years' War.

While at Erfurt he wrote this hymn to celebrate the victory of the Swedish king and his army over Roman Catholic forces at Leipzig. Gustavus Adolphus, the Swedish king and commander, was so taken with it that he used it constantly and ordered it to be sung before every battle thereafter. This accounts for the title and the accredited authorship. He made it his own.

The oldest form of the hymn is published as a pamphlet, which appeared shortly after the battle of Lutzen. A copy of this pamphlet is to be found in the Royal Library in Berlin and another in the Totvh Library in Hamburg.

We are told that on the morning of November, 16, 1632, King Gustavus Adolphus' forces engaged Wallenstein's army in the decisive battle of Liitzen. Early in the morning the king summoned his court preacher, Fabricius, and directed him to hold a service of prayer for the whole army.

While a thick mist still covered the field the king's battle hymn was sung. Gustavus then gave the watchword for the fight — ''God with us" — rode before the army to encourage his soldiers and commanded that as the troops advanced the trumpets should play ''Ein Feste Burg" and "Es woll uns Gott gnadig sein."

The battle was fiercely fought, the king falling, but victory came and evangelical liberty was assured and sealed by the blood of the martyred Swedish king. Because of the use of this hymn on the morning of his death it is often called 'The Swan Song of King Gustavus Adolphus."

The prayer which the king uttered that morning has been preserved. It was his usual battle prayer, and embraced the following brief sentences: "O Lord Jesus Christ, bless our armies and this day's battle, for the glory of Thy holy name! Amen."

Uttering the battle cry, "God with us!" he fought till he fell from his charger in the front of his valiant troops, when from the lips of the dying king came these words, "I seal with my blood the liberty and religion of the German nation." It was the heroic and worthy ending of a martyr, an incident which adds imperishable interest to the hymn.

Well has Frederick Saunders said: "What struggles of soul have some of these hymns not witnessed, in what strange and stirring scenes have they not mingled! How has their melody and sweet inspiration brought solace to sorrow, and lent ecstasy to spiritual joy! Like the words of the Holy Book, they linger in the memory; and, in the hours of despondency and gloom, how often have they lifted us up from the earthliness of our being, and also imparted even to the sick and dying wondrous consolation."

How we should seek to know the origin and enter into the spirit of the hymns we sing !

Concerning Gustavus Adolphus' hymn we might add that it is published in the Swedish hymn book of 1819, a book in extensive use both in Sweden and America, and there ascribed to the king himself.

In the Swedish Lutheran churches in this country it is invariably sung at Reformation festivals and also at Gustavus Adolphus Day (November 6) celebrations. It is also in very general use in all Lutheran churches in this country and increasing in popularity and use every year.

It was sung at the dedication of the Gustavus Adolphus Chapel at Liitzen November 6, 1907. This chapel was the gift of Conrad Oscar Ekman, of Sweden, to the city of Liitzen.

It stands on the spot which tradition points out as the place where the great king fell and where "Schwedenstein" was placed. At the dedication there were present representatives of the Church in Germany, Sweden, Finland and America, officially speaking for the followers of Luther and Gustavus Adolphus in those lands.

It was a great occasion and a high tribute to the man who fell there and whose favorite melody rang out to honor the man who had found strengthening for his faith in the rugged words of the old battle song, which had aided in bringing to a successful issue the terrors of the Thirty Years' Wax.

Whether German or Swede may claim this hymn is a question. They both rightly own it. It is a general favorite in Germany. Every Sunday in the home of the great German Lutheran pietist, Philip Jacob Spener, this hymn was sung.

It is regularly used at the meetings of the Gustavus Adolphus Union, an association organized for the express purpose of helping Protestant Churches in Roman Catholic countries. This would seem to be an eminently appropriate use of this hymn so closely associated with the Protestant struggle and the Protestant
victory.

The hymn has been translated into many languages and is in wide use. There are a number of English translations, the most generally used of which is the one we have given above from the pen of Miss Winkworth.

A hymn which is a contrast to the battle hymn of the Swedish king is Dr. Paul Eber's hymn, which he composed, based on the words of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron, 20 : 12). There are a number of translations, but as is so often the case, the favorite one which we give is that from the pen of
Miss Wink worth.

Gustavus Adolphus Battle Song Lyrics

Fear not, little flock, the foe

Who madly seeks your overthrow;

Dread not his rage and power:

What though your courage sometimes faints.

His seeming triumph o'er God's saints

Lasts but a little hour.

Be of good cheer; your cause belongs

To Him who can avenge your wrongs;

Leave it to Him, our Lord.

Though hidden yet from mortal eyes,

Salvation shall for you arise:

He girdeth on His sword!

As true as God's own word is true,

Not earth nor hell with all their crew

Against us shall prevail.

A jest and byword are they grown:

God is with us; we are His own;

Our victory cannot fail.

Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer!

Great Captain, now Thine arm make bare;

Fight for us once again!

So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise

A mighty chorus to Thy praise,

World without end. Amen.
For more stories and lyrics of popular hymns click here.

Who Wrote Zion Stands By Hills Surrounded Hymn?

Among the seven hundred and sixty-five hymns written by Thomas Kelly is one on the safety of the Church which is worthy of a place in any good hymn book.

The author, who was a son of an eminent Irish judge, was educated with a view to the law; but through spiritual conviction gave himself to the work of the ministry. With Rowland Hill, because of his earnest evangelical preaching, he was inhibited by the Archbishop of Dublin and compelled to preach in unconsecrated buildings.

He eventually seceded from the Established Church and erected a number of places of worship in which he conducted worship and preached. This insight into the life of the author will materially increase our appreciation of his hymn in which he sings of the safety of the Church.

HYMN ON THE SAFETY OF THE CHURCH

Zion Stands By Hills Surrounded Hymn Lyrics

Zion stands with hills surrounded;

Zion kept by power divine;

All her foes shall be confounded.

Though the world in arms combine.

Happy Zion,

What a favored lot is thine!

Every human tie may perish;

Friend to friend unfaithful prove;

Mothers cease their own to cherish;

Heaven and earth at last remove;

But no changes

Can attend Jehovah's love.

In the furnace God may prove thee,

Thence to bring thee forth more bright,

But can never cease to love thee;

Thou art precious in His sight:

God is with thee,

God, thine everlasting Light.
For more lyrics and stories of old and popular hymns click here.

Zion Stands By Hills Surrounded Hymn Video

The History of The Church's One Foundation Hymn.

A hymn which has an interesting origin and history is the hymn usually called by its first line, "The Church's One Foundation." It was written by Samuel J. Stone in 1866.

Samuel J. Stone

The story of its conception in the mind of the waiter is that he was impressed by the defence of the Catholic Faith made by Bishop Gray, of Capetown, against the teachings of Bishop Colenso. This fact gives it an historic association which adds interest and meaning to its stanzas, which in the original number ten.

The hymn as it appeared originally is an elaboration of that portion of the Apostles' Creed which is indicated by the title, 'The Holy Catholic Church: The Communion of Saints. He is the Head of the Body, the Church."

This title is given to the hymn in the author's collection known as "Lyra Fidelium." It is a festival hymn of the church.

Church's One Foundation Hymn Lyrics

We give herewith those stanzas which are most familiar and most widely used.